Machine for shaping and smoothing collars or like articles.



Patented June 3, I902.

' A. a. GUS TAFSON. MACHINE FOR SHAPING AND SMOOTHING DOLLARS 0R LIKE ARTICLES.

. (Applicutizm filed Oct. 15, 1900.1

(No Model.)

4 Shuts-Sheet I.

TN: Nanny: mm w. nyomurm. wuumcmy. o. a.

No. 7IJI,7I5. I Patented June 3, I902.

' A. R. GUSTAFSON.

MACHINE FOR SHAPING AND SMODTI'IING DOLLARS 0B LIKE ARTICLES.

(Application filed on. 15, 1900.

v (No mmm Y 4 Sheets-Shoat 2.

77 V *JIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII Patented June 3, I902.

A. n. GUSTAFSON. MACHINE FOR SHAPINGYAND SMUOTHING CULLABS 0R LIKE ARTICLES.

(Application filed Oct. 15, 1900.)

(No Model.)

"m: norms PETERS co. PuOYO-UTNQ. wpsulnarou. 0 cl Patenfed lune 3, I902 A. n. GUSTAFSON. I NIAGIIINE FUR SHAPING AND SMOOTHING COLLAIIS 0R LIKE ARTICLES.

(Applicitiomflled Oct. 15, 1900.)

(No mm.)

4 Shuts-Sheet 4. v

III/I/IIIII/IIIIIII rIllI UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

AXELRLGUSTAFLISQN, or (intense, ILLI'No'Is, ASSIGNOR TO ELECTRIC LAUNDRY MAo IINEnYco, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORA- TION OF IL I OIS.

MACH-lNEFOR SHAPING AND SMOOTHING COLLARS OR LIKE ARTICLES.

srncrrrcarrotjrdr fiiin part of Letters Patent No. 701,715, dated June 3, 1902. Application filed October 15,1900; Serial F0. 33,033. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern: 7 g

cago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Shaping and Smoothing Collars or Like Articles, ofwhich the following is a full,'clear, and exact specification.

My invention relates more particularly to and has for its primary object to provide a machine for smoothing the edges of collars and other like articles where frayed or roughened and for im'partingto the collar the desired shape or curvature, a further object be- 1 ing to fold or creaseturned-down collarsiwithout bending them so abruptlyas to make them unsightly and strain orbreak the linen. I

With these ends'in View my invention consists incertain features of novelty in the construction, 'c'ombinatiomand arrangement of parts by whichthe said objects and certain other objectslhereinafter appearing are attained, all as fullydescribed with reference 2 5 to the accompanying drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the said drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved machine. Fig. 2 is an enlargedvertical sectional view of the mois 3o tener, hereinafterdescribed, for moistening the edge of the collar,' cuff, or other like ar ticle to be smoothed." Fig. is a detail vertical sectional view of theIs'team-moistener hereinafter described." Figfi is a side ele-' 5 vation' thereof. "Fig.' 5'isaside elevation of 1 the machine looking at lright angles'to the View presented in'Fig'. 1. Fig. 6 is a plan view thereof. Fig. 7 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken on the line 7 7, Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a verticalsectiontaken on the line 8 8, Fig. 7. Fig. 9 isa detail View of the under side of the grooved smoothing-iron, hereinafter described, showing the edge of the collar-support in section. Fig. 10 is avertical sectional View taken on the line 10 10, Fig.

6'; and Fig. 11 is a vertical longitudinal seetional view of the driving-shaft and clutch mechanism hereinafter described.

In the machine which constitutes an em- I bodiment of my invention 1 have provided Be it known that I, AXEL R. GUsTAFson, a, citizen of the United States, residing at, Chi- 1 means for shaping turn-down collars so as to give them "the desired crease and curvature without bending the same so abruptly as to make them unsightly or injure the fabric and at the same time to impart to the edge of the col-lara smooth and, if desired, glossy appearance, this part of my invention being especially useful in smoothing rough places where the collar is frayed or the linenbroken on the edge;

Y The machine also embodies means for dam 'pening the edge of the collar, so as to remoisten the starch preparatory to this treat- ,ment'without deteriorating the appearance of other parts of the' surface which have been previously ironed.

My invention also embodies means for subjecting the extreme upper edges of standing collars and the outer edges of ends as well, ifdesired, and the lower edges of turn-down collars to an ironing operation, whereby they maybe relieved of the saw-edge condition commonly occurring after laundering a cuif or collar which has been wornjand the machine'also embodies means for imparting the desired 'curvatu're to both standing'and turndown collars, articles." v,

It is well understood that after a turn-down collar has been folded it is de sirableto curve it to approximately fit the ne'ck,-aud=it"is also desirable that standing collars "be "likewise treated after they have'been'ironed'fiat. In Fig. 1 of the drawings I have shown a turndown collar in the act of having imparted to it this curvature, which is produced by passing its end between a friction feed-roller l and a plain roller 2,- arranged adjacent to a heated member 3, which is provided on one side contiguous to the rollers 1 '2 with an outwardly-extending concaved projection 4, which extends vertically or longitudiuallyof the rollers l 2 and projects approximately between them a little closer to the rollerll than the roller 2, so that as the end of the collar emerges from between the rollers when passing in the direction of the arrows shown in Fig. 7 it will strike the concaved face of the as well as to cuifs'and other like 7 projection 4, adjacent to the roller 2, and will be thereby deflected outwardly or approximately around the inner side of the roller 2 and will be thus given the desired curvature, as will be understood. The surface of the friction-roller 1 is rendered frictional in any suitable manner. I have shown it provided with one or more thicknesses of a fabric 1, wound thereon, so as to afiord sufficient pressure and friction against the collar to impel it through the rollers. The upper end of the rollerl is journaled in a sliding block or hearing 5, which slides in a slot 6, formed in a plate or bracket 7, the latter being provided with a set-screw S, which impinges the block 5 and is adapted to adjust the roller 1 with reference to the roller2, the lower end of the roller 1 being journaled in a block similar to the block 5, mounted in a slot 9 in a support or bracket 10 and capable of adjustment by means of set-screw 11, suitably secured to the bracket 10 by means of plate 12 and screwbolts 13. The lower end of the roller 1 passes downwardly below the bracket 10 and has secured thereto a gear-wheel 14, which meshes with a pinion 15, secured to the shaft 16 of roller 2, and the shaft 16 is provided with pinion 17, (see Fig. 5,) meshing with a gear 18 on an axle 19, the upper end of which latter is secured by nut 20 in bracket 10, while its lower end is secured by nut 21 in a horizontal portion 22 of the supporting-frame 23. The gear-wheel 18 is loose on the axle 19, but is secured to or formed on a sleeve'24, journaled on axle 19 and having lateral arms or a spider 25, connecting the sleeve with an annular bevel-gear 26, meshing with a bevelpinion 27, secured to the driving-shaft 28, which is mounted in a suitable bearing 29 on the frame 23, and has journaled loosely on its outer end a belt-pulley or other suitable driver 30, capable of being connected to the shaft 28 by means of a clutch, which is shown as consisting of a rod 31, passing axially through the shaft 28 (see Fig. 11) and having a transversely-projecting pin 32, which when it is desired to permit the pulley to run freely is drawn backwardly into an annular opening 33, formed in the hub of the pulley, so that the pulley may revolve around the pin 32 without obstruction; but when it is desired that the shaft turn with the pulley the rod 31 is pushed outwardly, forcing the pin 32 into a notch 34. The rod 31 may be manipulated by a bell-crank lever 35, to the upper arm of which the rod is connected by a fork 36, a coil-spring 37 being sleeved on the rod between said fork and the pinion 27 for holding the clutch normally out of engagement. The bell-crank is pivoted in a suitable hanger 38 and is operated bya treadle 39, connected to the lower arm of the bell-crank by a rod 40.

By the means described it will be seen that when desired rotative movement may be imparted to the rollers 1 2 for feeding the collar or other article to be operated on between provided with an annular band 44, which is adapted to fit between the folds of a turndown collar or other like article and constitute a support therefor, while the upper or folded edge of the collar is being ironed or is having the roughened portions smoothed off, which is done by a smoothing-iron 45, mounted over the band 44 and having a groove 45 in its under side curved complementary in shape to the band 44 and adapted to [it over the collar and press it down against the band. This smoothing-iron, as shown in Figs. 7 and S, has one side curved, so as to fit and slide against the outer side ofthe heated member 3, which imparts its heat thereto and keeps the iron at the requisite temperature at all times, and the iron is mounted on a vertical stem 46, guided by keepers 47, projecting from the side of the member 3. The iron is forced downwardly upon the collar by means of a handle or lever 48, having one end pivoted at 49 to the side of the member 3 and connected by an arm 50 to the stem 46. When pressure on the lever 48 is relieved, the iron 45 is returned to its upper normal position by means of a spring 51, sleeved on the stem 46 and bearing between the lower keeper 47 and a collar 52 on the stem. After the collar has been put in place over the upper edge of the annular supporting-band 44 the foot-treadle 39 is depressed and revolving motion imparted to the band 44, causing the collar to drag through the groove of the smoothingiron 45 as the collar passes under such iron one or more times until the desired result is accomplished. Before subjecting the edge of the collar to this operation, however, it is desirable to remoisten the starch, and in order that this may be accomplished without spoiling the finish of the collar at other places which cannot be reached and refinished by the iron 45 I provide one or more steam-nozzles, such as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. These nozzles consist of flattened fan-shaped chambers 53 54, provided with threaded nipples 55, respectively, adapted to be screwed into a branch 57 of the steam-supply pipe 42, the upper attenuated edges of the nozzles being provided with narrow slits, which will permit the steam to escape in a more or less condensed condition. The collar to be moistened is placed over one of these nozzles in its folded condition, so that the upper narrower edge of the nozzle will bear along the fold of the collar, and as the collar is drawn back and forth thereon the escaping steam will remoisten the starch at this fold without disfiguring the balance of the finish. The collar may then be placed on the annular supporting-band 44 and ironed by the iron 45, as before described. As isapparent-from Fig. 6, one of these nozzles (the nozzle 53) is curved in plan viewthat is, transverselyso as to conform to the shape of the collar after it has been once curved, the other nozzle, 54, being straight to accommodate collars that havenot been curved. Both nozzles, however, are straight across the top, as shown in Fig. 1. Each nozzle is also provided with a regulating-cock 58,whereby the steam may be turned on as desired. At the upper end of the heated member 3 I have shown an annular revolving iron 59,having one or more peripheral grooves 60 for the purpose of smoothing the single edges of the collars, cuffs, and other like articles where frayed or roughened. This iron 59 rests upon the upper end of the heated member 3 and is journaled on a stud-shaft 61, projecting from the top thereof, the iron being held in place by a screw 62, screwed in the end of said shaft, and mountedin a cavity 63 in the upper end of the member 3 is a gearwheel 64, which is secured by screws 65 to the bottom of the iron 59, the gear-Wheel being journaled on the shaft 61., The side of the cavity 63 is open, as indicated in Figs. 5 and 6, for the admission of the edge of a drivingpinion 66, secured to the upper end of the shaft of roller 2, which passes through the bracket 7, as shown in Fig. 10, so that the motion of roller 2 will be imparted to the iron 59. Preparatory to holding the edge of the collar or end or other article in either of the grooves 60 for the purpose described it is first drawn across adampening-roller 67, which is in the form of a spool 68, journaled on a pin 69, mounted in a cup for water or other solution, the surface of the roller 67 being composed of some suitable absorbent, such as cloth, for taking up the water. Thus it will be seen that by depressing the treadle 39 all of the revolving parts of the machine may be set in motion ready for use, as desired.

It will be seen that the base or plate 10, which supports the heated member or member 3, is pivoted concentrically with the annular supporting ring or band 44 by being mounted directly upon the upper end of the standard 19, which also constitutes the center. of the gear-wheel 18. Hence it will be seen that the smoothing-iron 4.5 may be adjusted with reference to the circumference of the support 44 by simply turning the base-plate 10, together with the parts supported thereon, until the desired position is attained. The base-plate 10 may then be firmly locked by means of a set-screw 2Q, projecting through the end of theplate l0 and impinging the upper end of the standard 19. This construction enables me to set the machine in the most advantageous position for the power-belt, which drives the wheel 30, and then set the superstructure or parts carried by the base-plate 10 in the position which will be most convenient to the operator, enabling him to avoid the driving-belt. At the same time, it will be seen, the train of gears 27 26, 18 17, 14 15, 66 and 64, which drives the annular iron 59, will be unbroken, and such iron, as well as the rollers 1 2, will remain in operative connection with the driving-shaft at all points of the adjustment of the base 10 by reason of one of said gearsto wit, the gear 18being concentric with the pivot of the base 10.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim asnew therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a machine for the purpose described the combination of a heated member, a friction-roller and a guide-roller arranged contiguous to said heated member and adapted to press the article to be treated against said heated member and advance said article past the same, an annular support adapted to fit within the folds of the article to be treated, a shaft upon which said support is mounted operatively connected with said rollers, means for rotating said support and asmoothing-iron having a groove adapted to fit over the edge of said support, substantially as set forth.

2. In a machine for the purpose described the combination of a revoluble ring or support for the article to be ironed, a heated member pivoted concentrically with said ring or support, an iron supported in connection with said heated member and having a groove adapted to be depressed over said ring, a revoluble iron having a groove for smoothing the edge of the article to be treated, arranged contiguous to so as to receive the heat from said heated member, revoluble rollers arranged contiguous to said heated member for guiding the article to be treated thereagainst, a driving-shaft and a train of gears connecting together said revoluble iron, rollers and revoluble ring, having one of its gearwheels arranged concentrically with said ring and the pivot of said heated member, whereby said heated m'ember may be adjusted around said ring without disconnecting the gears, substantially as set forth.

3. In a machine for the purpose described the combination of a rotating iron, a frictionroller, a guide-roller arranged adjacent to said friction-roller and a heated member presentin g a smoothing surface to said guide and friction rollers and also arranged contiguous to and heating said rotary iron so that the one heated member will be common to both said iron and rollers and serve the twofold function of acting as a heating and smooth ing-surface for said rollers and a heater for said rotary iron, and means for rotating said iron while in operative relation to said heated member, substantially as set forth.

' 4. In a machine for the purpose described the combination of a heated member, two rollers arranged adjacent thereto and adapted to press the article to be treated thereagainst, pressing the article to be treated against said means for driving one of said rollers, a rotary heated member, substantially as set forth. iron arranged adjacent to and heated bysaid .AXEL R GUSTAFSON heated member and means for operatively connecting one of said rollers with said rotary Witnesses:

iron whereby said roller will serve the twofold EDNA B. JOHNSON,

purpose of a shaft for rotating said iron and JNO. G. ELLIOTT. 

